Police clarify Dr Ceesay’s detention

Superintendent
David Kujabi, the public relations officer (PRO) of The Gambia Police Force
(GPF) on behalf of the Inspector General has clarified the reason (s) of
questioning Dr. Ismala Ceesay, a Political Science lecturer at the University
of The Gambia at the Police Headquarters in Banjul on Wednesday.

PRO
Kujabi added that there were comments he had made in connection with
intelligence that the police were looking into and needed clarifications.

Dr.
Ceesay was taken for questioning by the police around 1 p.m., after granting an
interview to The Voice Newspaper. The paper carried the story under the
headline: ECOMIG WOULDN’T PREVENT LONG TERM SECURITY RISK IF….

In
the interview, Dr. Ceesay said that the presence of the regional forces in the
country will not prevent long-term security risks if the president does not win
the trust of the army.

On
Thursday, the university Faculty and Staff Association issued a statement
expressing appreciations for the support rendered in ensuring the unconditional
release of Dr. Ismaila Ceesay from police custody.

“Dr.
Ceesay has been released and all charges dropped and the police promised to
issue an apology to the UTG community,” the statement stated.

The
statement further pointed out that his release was a victory for “our budding
democracy and for academic freedom and freedom of expression which we remain
resolute in protecting at all cost.”

“We
say Thank you to UTG staff and students for turning up at the station and for
adding their voice to the call for Dr. Ceesay’s release. We also extend thanks
to friends of UTG both at home and abroad for lending their voice to the
crusade. All social media commentators, print and electronic media.”

Dr.
Ceesay was interviewed until 22:00 hours when he was granted self-bail which he
declined to accept. Meanwhile Dr. Ceesay has been released unconditionally, the
police say.

The
Office of IGP, however, insists it will carry out its functions whenever it
believes under any circumstance that would amount to a threat to national
security.